Comments on Cashman’s Draft Report Card

I thought Rutherford was the best prep bat in the class—assuming you don’t count Delvin Perez—and I think he’s great value for the Yankees at this point. Both the hit and power tool project as above-average, and if you dream hard, maybe even plus. He’ll have to move off center, but he’ll be very good in right with a strong throwing arm. He’s older than your typical prep prospect, but I don’t care, he can hit, and that’s what really matters.

And another:
18) Yankees: Blake Rutherford, OF, Canoga Park, California: Once rumored as a top five pick, Rutherford fell mostly due to circumstances and could be a huge steal here, perhaps a victim of over-exposure. He can hit for at least moderate power, runs well, throws well, and has few weaknesses.

BTW, did the Yankees totally FU their 2nd round pick this year? Or, is that just me?

No, a senior signability pick to make sure they have the money available to sign Rutherford because he wants more than his slot is valued at.

Solak is a Refsnyder type with a better hit tool, less power, better command of the K zone and he already knows how to play 2nd. He might be a middling regular, but is more likely to wind up a utility type who can hit a little.

@ Steve L.:
Not entirely. Solak is a legit prospect, a 4th rounder or so. MLB had him at #147, which is 5th round, but I’ve seen a couple of places that rate his hit tool highly enough to justify a 3rd round pick on him.

But yes, the draft slot rules pretty much compel taking one or more players you can sign below slot value when a player with the option of going to college falls from higher up into your lap, and you draft him anyway. The longer the fall, the more money you have to free up with signability prospects. The 3rd round pick (Martinez) is a legit 3rd rounder, taken at #98 where the pre-draft listings had him anywhere from #75 to #108. The 4th, 5th, and 6th round picks look like below slot guys, or so I have been told by someone who follows these things even more obsessively than I do.

Sox should be in a somewhat similar position with Groome, especially with Boras supposedly now his agent. I think if they let Groome go, they get a replacement pick next June at #13. So they have some leverage. He’s also supposed to be a Red Sox fan, mostly as a contrarian to all the Yankee fans in his family. (Kids!)